In all-boys high school, two students harmonize until their hearts start to beat together.

Classmates is the romantic feature debut by Shouko Nakamura and is told in a series of vignettes. Based on an original manga by Asumiko Nakamura, the story follows two students in an all-boys high school. Rehearsing and hanging out together, the boys practice their singing skills. While they listen to each other's voice and harmonize, their hearts start to beat together. With watercolour effects, elongated human figures and occasional split screens, Nakamura has crafted a tender and intimate queer romance.

This film is preceded by an introduction. In this half hour introduction, our anime curator Tess Wiskerke will show and talk about the diversity of LGBTQ+ representation in anime throughout the years.

This program screened as part of Kaboom Animation Festival 2023